Switch



April 17, 1928.

G. A. YANocHowsKl SWITCH Filed Ma y 31, 1924 DT'E' Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE A. YANOCHOWSKI, OF'LA GRANGE, iLLINOIS .'ASSIGNOR 'ro K LLQGQ swITcH- BOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILL'rNoIs, A CORPORATION OF ILLI- NOIS.

swrrcn.

Application filed May 31, 1924. Serial No. 716,903. I

My invention relates to switches or to circuit closing devices,-and more particularly to switches used for closing the circuit of motor horns or the like, more commonly referred to as horn buttons in the automobile and motor boat art. p

A feature of my invention is the pro vision of a switch of the above type, which is provided .with a movable contact rod in combination with another member, which is secured to the push button of my switch and disposed in my switch in operative association with said contact rod, so that when pressure isexerted upon said push button the said member will move to cause the-contact rod to always move in a vertical or rectilinear direction, regardless of the pointat which pres-sure is applied to said push button, to make contact with a stationary contact secured in. said switch. to close the circuit controlled by my switch.

Another feature of my invention the provision of simple means for restoring and for normally maintaining the movable contact rod of my invention out of contact with the stationary contact, and to also maintain the push button of my switch in its normal position when the same is free from pressure. Theabove features, as well as others, will be more specifically set forth in the ensuing specification. and appended claims. and for a clearer understanding of my invention, rct'erence may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which drawings like reference characters in the several views denote like parts.

.Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view in elevation of the.

Referring now in detail to my invention,"

as illustrated in the drawings, 1 is a casing containing the different parts of myswitch, said casing having its closed end provided with an opening 2. and also with circumferential threads 3. A circumferential flange 4 is provided and integrally formed with the casin 1' which flan e 4 in combination with thethreads 3 serve to secure my switch in.

the automobile, or any other suitable place; Anfinsulation disk 5 is inserted into the casingland brought into engagement with the closedend of the casing- 1, and a. stationary contact member 6is provided which is inserted into the casingl and rests upon the-insulation d1sk'5. To secure the contact memberfi .in fixed position within the casing 1, a screw 7 is provided, which extends disk, '5 and having screw-threaded engage- .inentwith'a suitably. tapped orifice 10 in "the contact member 6. A cylindrical member 11 of insulation material is provided I which fits within the casing 1 and rests upon vthe contact member 6 while the reduced portion 12 of the contact member 6 extends into after the contact rod 14 is inserted into the coil spring 15, a plate 18 is fitted-over the other end of'the contact rod 14, and said other-end isthe'n formed to form a flat head 19'of a size to prevent the removal of the coil spring 15 and the plate 18 from the contact rod 14, or a contact 19 may be connected to the rod 14. i

An inverted metallic cup21 is-provided cylindrical metallic member 23, so that the circumferential flange 24. integrally formed with the said cylindrical. member 23, en-

gages the internal circumferential face 25 of the-cup 21. Thecircumferential flange-24 is slightly smaller in size than the diameter of the central openingin the cup 21, and

'the opening 22-is slightly larger in diameter 'than'the diameter ofthe cylindrical member .23jfor purposes to be pointed out later.-'; The

which has an opening 22 'for receiving a cylindrical member 23 is secured to a button 26, "formed of suit-able insulating n'iaterial, such as bakelite orthe like, by means of a screw 27 which extends through a suitable opening in the closed endoli the member 23 and then has screw-threaded engagement 'with a suitably tapped orifice in a metal in sort 28 secured in the button 26 during'the formation of said button 26, or the cylindrical member 23 may have an eX-tended'portiou threaded and adapted to {it into the tapped insert 28. The central opening in the member 23 is such as topermit the'head of the screw 27 to be flush with the interior end surface of the said member 23;

The contact rod 14 and the coil' spring 1-5 with the plate 18 are inserted into'the cup member 21 as a single unit, so that the head 1? of the contact rod 14 engages and restsin the close/(lend ot the cylindrical member 23, and the plate 18 engages a circumferential shoulder SO'formed in the inverted cup mem- 'ber 21, whereupon the inner edge of the end of the cup member 21 is staked over'to secure said plate 13 to the cup member 21. The coil spring 1.5engagring the plate 18 and the head 17 ot the contact rod 14" spring presses the said contact rod 14 upwardly so that the head 17 normally remains in contactual' engagement with the closed end of thecyliiulrical member 23. and the flange 24 oft-he said member 23 will normally remain in engagement with the closed end of the cup member 21 due to the spring effectof the coil spring 15. The endof the head17 of the contact rod 14 is flat and of such a size that there is noliability of the button 26 and member 23 tilting when the button 26 is free from pressure whereby the button 26 and member'23 will normally assume the position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be obvious that when the member 23. plate 18, red 14, button26 etc, are assembled, as just described, that a single mount able unit is effected. This unit is now i-nserted into the enclosing casing 1 so that the open end of the cup member 21 and the plate 18 will rest upon the insulation member 11', and the end 19' of the movable contact member will be in the opening; 13 of member 11 and opposite the reduced portion 12- 0 1 the stationary or fined contact member 6 but normally out of contactual engagement therewith When the cup member '21 is enthe casing 1,. the closed end of said cap member 21 will be flush with the open end of said casing 1, and the button 26' will have its cut away portion 33 directly over the open end of saidcasing To 'secure" the cup member 21 within the casing 1 against removal and rotary movement, a screw threaded member 34 is provided which on tends through and has screw-threaded engagement with a suitably tapped orifice 35 in the casing 1 and has its end adapted to engage a circumferential channel or groove 36 in the said" cup member 21. V

Havmgdescribed the construction and the manner in WhlCh the diiierent parts of my invention are assembled, I will now describe how my switch; operates in controlling the circuit controlled by the same. i. It will be remembered that Fig. 2 illustrates my switch in its normally inoperated posit-ion. Assuming now that pressure is ap:

plied directly on the center of the top of the button 26by the operator or'driver, the-'butwhich will also close the circuit controlledv by my switch. The contact rod 14 will make contact with the lixed contact member 6 so long as pressure is exerted upon the button 26, thereby maintainingt-he circuit closed through the switch. Fhe circuit may be traced through my switch asfollows: ter-,

minal member 8, which receives an external conductor, screw 7, fixed cont-act member 6, movable contact rod 14, coil spring 15, plate 18, cup membor21' and casingl tothe other side of the circuit. lVhen pressure is exerted upon the button 26- at any point other than at the top center point, the said button 2(5 willtilt asthe cylindrical member 23 being secru cdto the button 26=will al'sotilt in the same direction with the'button 26 due-to the engagement of the circun'iterentialflange 24, of said member 23' with the closed end-oil the c'upmember' 21 at the face 25, which engagement provides a fulcrum for the said member 23. The member 23 rocking about its fulcrum and engaging the head'17' of the contact rod 14, will move the said movable Contact rod 14 in a downwardly vertical directionagainst the spring tension of the coil spring 15 whereby the contact rod 14 will make contact with the fixed contact member 6 to close the circuit controlled by my switch. The circuit through my switch when/pressure is applied as just described will also extend through the movable contact rod 14, member 23 through the point of fulcrum of said member 23, cup meniber 21 to-the casing 1 and other side of the circuit. Vhen pressure is no longer applied'to the button 26, the same will automatically restore to normal together with the movable contact rod 14 due to the spring tension of the coil spring" 1 5, whereby the circuit through my switch is opened. It willbe obvious that the circumferential flange 24 of the member 23 engaging the closedend oft the cup member 21, will always provi'dea fulcrum noma-tter at what point pressure is applied to the button 26 except when pressure is applied to the center point of .the top of said button 26 as described above. that the contact rod 14 will always move in a vertical or rectilinear direction. Theopening in the plate 18 is slightly larger than the thickness of the rod 14 and the opening 22 in the cup member 21 is slightlylarger than the diameter of'the member 23"to avoid any possibility of a binding effect and to also provide a complete fulcrum for the member 23. The plate 18 and the spring 15 cooperate to prevent movement of the con tact 14 in any direction other than in the prescribed path. Due to the thickness of the plate 18 and the tension of-said-spring 15 when an angular movement is imparted to the cup shaped member 21 the contact end 17 will disengage a portion ofthe bottom of the cup 21 so that only one edge of the end 17 will engage the cup 21. The cup shaped member 21 will thus be tipped upon the end 17 of the contact 14 which will be moved downwardly in the prescribed path.v

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided a circuit closing switch,

simple in construction and-which is provided with a movable contact which will always move in a vertical or'rectilinear direction to make and break contact with a stationary or fixed contact in closing and opening the circuit controlled by my switch.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited tothe exact structure, as shown and described, but that I intend to cover all that which may come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: 1 Y 1. A device of the class described including a casing, a fixed contact'element secured in said casing but insulated therefrom, an inverted cup-shaped member secured in said casing,v a movable contact element supported in said cup-shaped member in operative association with said fixed contactelement, a control member adapted tomove said movable contact whenpressure is applied thereto, means provided with a flange. for fulcruming said means in said cup-shaped member for effecting rectilinear movement always in the same path of said movablecontact element should said controlmember be either tilted or moved perpendicularly when pressure is applied thereto to cause the same to contact with said fixed contact element to close a circuit through said device, and means comprising a coiled spring adapted to maintain said movable contact in as sociation withsaid flanged means.

2. A device of the class describedinclud- It will further be seen ing a casing, a fixed contact element'secured in saidcasing but insulated therefrom, an 111- verted cup-shaped member secured in said casing, a movable contact element supported in said cup-shaped member in operative association with said fixed contact element,

a control member adapted to move said movable contact when pressure is applied thereto, means provided with a flange for fulthe same to contact with said'fixed Contact element to close a circuit through said device, and means including 'a coiled spring adapted to maintain said movable contact in association with said flanged-means and for restoring and yieldingly holding said movable contact element in-its normal position to open the circuit of said device.

3. A deviceof the class described including a casing, a contact secured insaid casing. a cylindrical member secured in said casing, a push button, a cylindricalmember secured to said push button, a base for said first cylindrical member and an orifice therein through which said. second. cylindrical member extends, a movable contact element, means for supporting said movable contact element, a coiled spring adaptedto maintain said movable contact in association with said second cylindrical member, and means integrally formed with said second cylindrical member engaging said base of said first cylindrical member to form a fulcrumfor said second cylindrical,

member so that when pressure is applied to said push button said second cylindrical member will move about its fulcrum and effect rectilinear movement of said movable contact element always in the same path should said push button be eithert-ilted or moved perpendicularly when pressure is applied thereto to close a circuit through said base of said first cylindrical member to form.

a fulcrum'for said second cylindrical memher so that when pressure is applied to said l it) push button said second cylindrical member Will move about its ttulcrumand cfiiect reclilinear moven'icl'it ozt said movable contact ill elementalways in the same path should said push button be either tilted or moved perliiendicularly when pressure is applied thereto to close a circuit through said device, and yielding means for restoring said mov-. able contact element and said second cylindrical member when pressure is released from said push button to open the circuitthrough said device.

A device of the class described including a casing, a lined contact clement scui'ed in said casing, a pair of cylindrical members, one of said pair or cylindrical members projecting through said other of said pair of cylindricalv members, said projecting member being itulcrumed on the other ol said members, a non-conducting member secured to said. one member, a second contact element, means for supporting said second contact clementincluding a coiled spring; adapted to maintain one end of said second contact element in engagement with the closed end of .'d projecting cylindrical men; ier, said projecting; c -,'lii'1 'lrical member adapted to move about its "fulcrum when pressure is applied at any point o'll' center oi said non-conducting member to effect longitudinal moven'ient of said second contact eleineut always in. the same path regardless of where the pressure is applied to said nonconducting member, to close a circuit through said contact elements.

6. A device of the class described including a casing, a fixed. contact element secured in said casing, a pair of cylindrical members, one of said pair of cylindrical members projecting through said other of said pair of cylindrical members, said projecting member being fulcrun'red on the other of said members, a non-conductingmeml'ier secured to said one member, a second contact element, means for supporting said. second contact elen'ient, said .)1'oiectiiu cylindrical member adapted to move about its fulcrum when pressure ap )licd at any point oli center ot said non-conducting member to eltect longitiulinal movement oi said second contact element to close acircuit through said contact el'ei'nents, said longitudinal movement being always in the-same path should said nonrconducting member be tilted in any direction by the pressure applied thereto, and means tor autoimitieally restoring; said second contact element through the same path of travel and to also restore and yieldinu ly hold said non-condacting member and s. id one cylindrical member in normal pos tion to open the circuit through said contact elements, said means also adapted to maintain said second contact element in association with one of said cylindrical members. 1

7. A; device ot the class described includ-v inga casinga conducting clement secured in said? casing but insulated therefrom, a pair ot cylindrical members, aisecond conducting element extending thru both of said cylindrical members, spring means adapted tomaiintain' one end of said second conducting member in engagement withthe closed end of one of said cylindrical members, a control member secured to one of said cylindrical members adapted to operate. said one cylindrical member, when pressure is appliedthereto, to cause said. second. conducting element to always move in the same path of; travel to close a circuit through said conducting elements should said control member be either tilted or moved perpendicularly when pressure is applied to said control member.

. '8. A device of the class described includint; a casing, a conducting element secured in said casing but'insulated therefrom, apair of cylindrical members, a second conductingelement, a control member secured to one of said members and. adapted to-opcrate said one member, when pressure is applied thereto, to cause said second conducting element to always move in the same path oli travel to close a circuit through said coni'lucting elements should 'said: control member be either tilted or mo-ved perpendicularly when pressure is applied to said control member, and means including a coiled: spring formainta'ining said second conducting element in engagen'ient with the closed endof one of said cylindrical members and for restoring said second conducting element in a retrograde direction.

9; A 'd'evice of the class described including a fixed contact element, a pairott cupshaped members, one of said pair of cup shaped members projecting through said other out said pair oi cup shaped members,

an individualjfiange for each one of said cup shaped members adapted to engage each other to provide a fulcrum "for one of said cup shaped members, a movable contact element operatively associated with said pair of cup shaped members and in operative relation with said fixed contact element,means tor rocking said one cup shaped member about its fulcrum to effect endwise movem nt of saidmovable contact element toot tect contactual engagement of said conducting elements.

1-0. A device of the character described includingai casing, a stationary contact in said casing, an inverted cupextending into said. casing, an operating member fulcrumed on said inverted cup, a rectilinearly movable contact, a coiled spring surrounding said movable contact and resting againstone end of said contact adapted to maintain said contact in position against the'clos'ed end of said inverted cup, said movable-contact hold--' ing said operating member in normal position, and adapted to be moved always in the same path into engagement'vvith said stationary contact When pressure is applied to said operating member to tilt or move the said actuating member perpendicularly.

11. A device of the character described including a casing, a stationary contact secured in said casing, a. disc in said casing, a rectilinearly movable contact supported by said disc, a push button adapted to op-,

erate said movable contact when pressure is applied thereto, a cup-shaped member for securing said disc in position, and a movable cup shaped controlling member extending through said first said cup shaped member ,and tulcrumed on said first 'cupshaped member for moving said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact,

a control member secured to said one of said cup-shaped members, a rectilinearly movable 'contactsupported' by said other member held in position by said cup-shaped members, said movable contact operating to hold said one of said cup shaped members in normal position, and said control member adapted to move said movable contact into engagement with said stationary contact.

13.A device of the character described including a casing, a stationary contact in said casing, a pair of cup-shaped members, one member fulcl'umed on the other of said members, a control member secured to one 01 said cup-shaped members, a rectilinearly movable contact supported by a member held in position by one of said cup-shaped members, said movable contact operating to hold the other of said cup-shaped members in normal position, said cup-shaped members so co-operating as to permit said movable GEORGE A. YANOCHOWSKI. 

